Camera

ABSTRACT

A camera includes an imaging element that receives transmitted light of an imaging optical system, a calculator that calculates focus evaluation value responding to a focus status of the focus lens based upon an output of the imaging element, a scan driving that scans the focus lens in a single direction along an optical axis, a detector that detects an absolute position of the focus lens, a pitch determiner that determines a lens movement pitch deciding timing to obtain the focus evaluation value at a given interval in response to an output of the detector during the scan driving, a controller that obtains the focus evaluation value every time the focus lens moves by the determined lens movement pitch during the scan driving and a focusing adjuster that seeks a focus point by evaluating focus evaluation values obtained by the controller and drives the focus lens to the focus point.

[0001] This application is based upon and claims priority of JapanesePatent Application No.2002-114831 filed on Apr. 17, 2002, the contentsbeing incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a camera capable of automaticfocusing (AF) by a contrast method.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] In this field of the art, as one of ways of automatic focus (AF)adjustment for use in a camera, there is a so-called contrast method.According to this method, an object is picked up by an imaging elementsuch as CCD or so and an in-focus position is determined by using animaging signal in a focus detection area. More specifically, a componentof a given spatial frequency band is extracted from an imaging signalwithin a given focus detection area by a band pass filter and byintegrating a component's absolute value, focus evaluation value iscalculated. This focus evaluation value is an amount that corresponds toa contrast of a focus detection area and the higher a contrast is, thehigher the value is. In view of the fact that the closer a focus lens isto an in-focus position, the higher a contrast of an object becomes,detects a position showing a peak value of focus evaluation value isdetected and judged to be an in-focus position and then a focusingoptical system is driven to the in-focus position. As one of ways todetect a peak value position, a focus lens is driven to scan from apoint at infinity away to a point at a closest distance away orvice-versa and while scanning, every time a focus lens moves by a givenmovement pitch, each focus evaluation value is calculated respectivelyand each calculated value is also memorized respectively and then, byevaluating a plurality of memorized each focus evaluation value, a peakvalue position is obtained (a scan method).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In a scan method, a fine scan by making a movement pitch of afocus lens small enables to detect a peak value position (an in-focusposition) with high accuracy. However, a fine scanning inevitablyinvites an increase in the number of calculations of focus evaluationvalues, which would take much time to scan and lead to a decrease in AFspeed. It is an object of this invention to provide a camera enabling tobecome compatible with an enhanced accuracy and a high speed in an AFoperation.

[0007] In order to achieve the object, according to claim 1 set forth inthis invention, there is provided a camera which includes an imagingelement that receives transmitted light of an imaging optical systemincluding a focus lens, a calculator that calculates focus evaluationvalue varying in response to a status of a focusing adjustment of thefocus lens based upon an output of photoelectric conversion of theimaging element, a scan driving that scans the focus lens in a singledirection along an optical axis in obtaining a focus point, a detectorthat detects an absolute position of the focus lens, a pitch determinerthat determines a lens movement pitch deciding timing to obtain thefocus evaluation value at a given interval in response to a detectionoutput of the detector during the scan driving, a controller thatobtains the focus evaluation value by activating the calculator everytime the focus lens moves by the determined lens movement pitch duringthe scan driving and a focusing adjuster that seeks a focus point byevaluating a plurality of focus evaluation values obtained by thecontroller and drives the focus lens to the focus point.

[0008] According to claim 2 set forth in this invention, there isprovided the camera disclosed in claim 1, wherein, in a case of the lensposition detected by the detector being included in a given range, thepitch determiner makes the movement pitch small as compared to a case ofthe lens position being included in another range other than the givenrange. According to claim 3 set forth in this invention, there isprovided the camera disclosed in claim 2, wherein the given range isnarrow in comparison to another range other than the given range.

[0009] According to claim 4 set forth in this invention, there isprovided the camera disclosed in claim 2, wherein the given range isadjacent to a start or a finish point of the scan driving.

[0010] According to claim 5 set forth in this invention, there isprovided the camera disclosed in claim 2, wherein the pitch determinerdetermines the movement pitch in response to the output of the detectorand a focal length of the imaging optical system and the longer thefocal length is, the smaller the movement pitch is made.

[0011] According to claim 6 set forth in this invention, there isprovided the camera disclosed in claim 5, wherein the longer the focallength is, the narrower the given range is made.

[0012] According to claim 7 set forth in this invention, there isprovided the camera disclosed in claim 2, wherein the pitch determinerdetermines the movement pitch in response to the output of the detectorand f-number of the imaging optical system and the greater the f-numberis, the larger the movement pitch is made.

[0013] According to claim 8 set forth in this invention, there isprovided the camera disclosed in claim 7, wherein the greater thef-number is, the broader the given range is made.

[0014] According to claim 9 set forth in this invention, there isprovided the camera disclosed in claim 1, wherein, in a case of thedetected lens position being included in the given range, the pitchdeterminer makes the movement pitch large as compared to the case of thelens position being included in another range other than the givenrange.

[0015] According to claim 10 set forth in this invention, there isprovided the camera disclosed in claim 1, wherein a close and longdistance shooting modes are settable and in the close distance shootingmode, in a case of the detected lens position being included in a givenrange at a close distance away, the pitch determiner makes the movementpitch small as compared to a case of the detected lens position beingincluded in another range other than the given range at a close distanceaway and in the long distance shooting mode, in a case of the detectedlens position being included in a given range at a long distance away,the pitch determiner makes the movement pitch small as compared to acase of the detected lens position being included in another range otherthan the given range at a long distance away.

[0016] According to claim 11 set forth in this invention, there isprovided the camera disclosed in claim 10, wherein the close distancemode includes a portrait and close-up shooting modes and the longdistance mode includes a scenic and night scenery shooting modes.

[0017] According to claim 12 set forth in this invention, there isprovided the camera disclosed in claim 10, wherein the scan drivingscans the taking-lens from either infinity end or a closest distance endto the other end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control system of a digitalstill camera of an embodiment in accordance with this invention.

[0019]FIG. 2 is a diagram explaining a scanning control of a firstembodiment in accordance with this invention.

[0020]FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a processingprocedure of a scanning control in FIG. 2.

[0021]FIG. 4 is a diagram explaining a scanning control in a secondembodiment.

[0022]FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating an example a scanning controlin FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] A first embodiment of this invention is explained by referring toFIGS. 1-3.

[0024] FIG.1 is a function block diagram of a digital still cameraaccording to an embodiment of this invention. A flux of light of anobject transmitted through imaging optical system 101 passes throughdiaphragm 102 and is formed on a light sensing plane of imaging element103. Imaging element 103 is a photoelectric conversion imaging elementwhich outputs an electric signal corresponding to a light intensity ofan object image formed on a light sensing plane and as a photoelectricconversion imaging element, a solid-state imaging element such as CCD orMOS (Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) is used. An imaging signal that is anoutput of solid-state imaging element 103 is input into analog signalprocessing circuit 104 where a processing of a correlated dual sampling(CDS) and so are performed.

[0025] Once an imaging signal processed by analog signal processingcircuit 104 is converted into a digital signal, buffer memory 105 storesthe digital signal temporarily. Buffer memory 105 is a frame memorycapable of storing as many image data as plural frames. Data stored intobuffer memory 105 is read out by digital signal processing circuit 106where several image processing such as a contour compensation, gammacontrol and so on are performed. Digital signal processing circuit 106includes a several signal processing circuits such as a gain controlcircuit, brightness signal creation circuit, color difference creationcircuit and so which are controlled by CPU 112.

[0026] Once data digitally processed is stored again into buffer memory105, the digital data is stored into outside storage medium 111 such asa memory card and like via record/reproduction signal processing circuit110. In a case where an image data is stored in outside storage medium111, an image data is generally compressed in a given compressionmethod, for example, a JPEG method. Record/reproduction signalprocessing circuit 110 is responsible for a processing of a datacompression (ex. JPEG) when storing an image data into outside storagemedium 111 and a data extension when reading out a compressed image datafrom outside storage medium 111. An interface for use in a datacommunication with outside storage medium 111 is also included inrecord/reproduction signal processing circuit 110. Monitor 109 is aliquid crystal display unit for use in showing a photographed image andalso reproducing an image data stored into outside storage medium 111.In a case where an image is displayed on monitor 109, an image datastored into buffer memory 105 is read out and D/A converter 108 convertsfrom a digital image data to an analog image data. Then, an image isdisplayed on monitor 109 with this analog image signal.

[0027] Displaying an object image picked up by imaging element 103 onmonitor 109 takes two forms. One display form is such a case where arelease operation is not performed and an object image being repeatedlypicked up by imaging element 103 is successively displayed on a monitorby updating a picked-up object image, being called a through image.Another form is a so-called freeze image that displays an image pickedup by imaging element 103 for a given period of time after releasing acamera shutter.

[0028] CPU 112 has AE calculation unit 1121 performing an automaticexposure calculation based upon an imaging signal from imaging element103, AWB calculation unit 1122 calculating a coefficient of a whitebalance adjustment and a focus detection unit consisting of band passfilter (hereafter called BPS) 1124, evaluation value calculation unit1125 and AF calculation unit 1126. BPF 1124 extracts a high-frequencycomponent with a given frequency band from an imaging signal within afocus detection area provided in a taking-image area. In a case where aplurality of focus detection areas are provided, a signal per each focusdetection area is read out in order and an extraction processing pereach focus detection area is performed by BPS 1124. An example with onefocus detection area will be explained below. An output of BPS 1124 isinput into evaluation value calculation unit 1125 and focus evaluationvalue is calculated by integrating an absolute value of a high-frequencycomponent. AF calculation unit 1126 performs AF calculation based uponfocus evaluation value and acknowledges an in-focus position. Details ofAF calculation will be explained later. CPU 112 drives a stepping motorused for focusing (not shown here) via driver 113 based upon acalculation result output by AF calculation unit 1126 and moves a focuslens constituting imaging optical system 101 towards an in-focusposition along an optical axis. Also, CPU 112 stores the foregoing focusevaluation value and a position of a focus lens at detecting focusevaluation value and is provided with storage unit 1128 for storing datafor use in other calculations or so. Timer 1127 is generally called ahalfway-depress timer and it starts counting when a halfway-depressoperation of a release button is released and immediately after a firstin-focus position is obtained after a power is turned on. Imagingoptical system 101 includes also a zoom lens and driver 113 drives thiszoom lens. Also, driver 114 drives diaphragm 102 in accordance with aninstruction of CPU 112 and driver 115 controls timing to extract asignal from imaging element 103. Lens position detection unit 150detects an absolute position of a focus lens and for instance, a knowndistance encoder provided on a lens barrel is used. Or, a lens positionmay be detected by counting a number of pulses of a stepping motor forfocusing. Operation unit 116 connected to CPU 112 includes power switch1161 to turn on or off a camera, halfway-depress switch 1163 to switchon by halfway depressing a release button, full-depress switch 1162 toturn on by fully depressing a release button and setting button 1164 forselecting a shooting mode and the like. There are a normal, a scenic, aportrait, a sports, a close-up and a night scenery modes as a shootingmode set by setting button 1164 and a way of determining an exposurevalue is different according to each shooting mode. CPU 112 sets any ofshooting modes in response to an operation of setting button 1164.

[0029] Next, a contrast AF control according to this embodiment isdetailed. A contrast method pays attention to a correlation between adegree of an image blur and a contrast and then a focusing is performedby utilizing the correlation that a contrast of an image becomes at themaximum when the image is sharply formed. A size of a contrast can beevaluated by a size of a high-frequency component of an imaging signal.That is, a high-frequency component of an imaging signal is extracted byBPF 1124 and let what an absolute value of a high-frequency component isintegrated at evaluation value calculation unit 1125 be focus evaluationvalue. This focus evaluation value is amount varying in response to acontrast of an image, in other words, a status of a focus adjustment ofa focus lens and it becomes at the maximum value (peak value) when anobject comes to focus and a contrast becomes at the maximum.

[0030] To look for a lens position with a peak value of focus evaluationvalue, this embodiment employs a so-called full range scan. As shown inFIG. 2(a), for example, this scan method drives a focus lens frominfinity point to a closest distance point in a single direction andduring a scan driving, the foregoing focus evaluation values areobtained and then an obtained each value is stored every time a focuslens moves by a given movement pitch. The marks O and X denote a pointto seek focus evaluation value. After a scan driving, a peak positionwill be obtained by analysis of a plurality of stored focus evaluationvalues and it will be acknowledged as an in-focus position. A scanningmay start from a closest distance point to infinity point.

[0031] Well, when it comes to a detection of a peak position, by makinga movement pitch of a focus lens small, the finer a scanning is, themore accurate detection of a peak position becomes. However, even when amovement pitch is relatively large, a peak position can be detected withrelative high accuracy if sufficient focus evaluation data in thevicinity of a peak position are available. What matters is a case wherethere is no sufficient data either before or after a peak position.

[0032]FIG. 2, for example, shows an example that a peak of focusevaluation value is close to infinity point where a scan starts. In thiscase, when a movement pitch is large as illustrated by P2 of FIG. 2,since sufficient data covering from a peak position to infinity point isnot available, it becomes difficult to obtain a peak position with highaccuracy. Also, similarly when a peak position is adjacent to a closestdistance point where a scan finishes, as data covering from a peakposition to a closest distance point is not sufficient, a peak positioncannot be accurately detected.

[0033] Thus, in accordance with this embodiment, movement pitches P1(<P2) (spacing between O) of range E1 nearby infinity point and range E3close to a closest distance point are made relatively small. With thispitch arrangement, a fine scanning can be performed due to a smallmovement pitch in ranges E1 and E3. And even when a peak position isnearby infinity point or a closest distance point, as sufficient data infront of and at the back of a peak position can be obtained, a peakposition can be detected with high accuracy. on the other hand, middlerange E2 occupying the space in between ranges E1 and E3 is providedwith relatively large movement pitch P2 (spacing between X). In a caseof a peak position being in this range, a peak position may be detectedwith relatively good accuracy as sufficient data in front of and at theback of a peak value is available, although a scanning becomes roughthanks to a large movement pitch.

[0034] Accordingly, this embodiment does not make a movement pitch smallthroughout a focus detection area, but makes it small only at anecessary portion. Thus, no matter where a peak position is, a peakposition (in-focus position) can be detected accurately withoutsignificantly slowing down a scanning. Namely, this embodiment enablesan AF operation to become compatible with high accuracy and high speed.Particularly, it enables a scanning speed in ranges E1 and E3 to becomefaster as even a total of small movement pitches of E1 and E3 is stillnarrow in comparison to a large movement pitch of range E2. FIG. 3 is aflow chart showing a control procedure of CPU 112 to realize theforegoing operation. In step S1, when AF start switch (ex. ahalfway-depress switch) is turned on, a focus lens moves up to eitherinfinity end or a closest distance end in step S2. This end becomes ascanning start point and it is assumed that it is infinity point herein.

[0035] And then, until a lens reaches the another end (a closestdistance end) in step S9, a processing is repeatedly performed fromsteps S3 to S8. In step S3, of imaging signals output by imaging element103, a high-frequency component of the signal coming out of focusdetection area is extracted by BPF 1124 and focus evaluation value isobtained by integrating absolute value of a high-frequency component atevaluation value calculation unit 1125. Focus evaluation value is storedinto storage unit 1128 of CPU 112. In step S4, a present lens positiondetected from an output of lens position detection unit 150 is storedinto storage unit 1128 just like focus evaluation value. In step S5,which range a lens position belongs to E1, E2 or E3 is judged. When itbelongs to range E1 or E3, let a movement pitch be P1 in step S6 andwhen it is included in range E2, let a movement pitch be P2 (>P1) instep S7. Well then, in step S8, a focus lens moves towards a closestdistance end by P and then a flow proceeds to S9. in the foregoing stepS8, whether a focus lens moves by P may be judged by counting a pulseof, for instance, stepping motor for focusing and when counted pulsesamount to a given number, it may be concluded that the focus lens movesby P. When P=P1, a given number of pulses may be less than that of P=P2.Or let a given number of pulses be fixed, the similar operation may berealized by making a moving speed of a focus lens in ranges E1 and E3lower than in range E2. In step S9, when it is judged that a focus lensreaches a closest distance end, a scanning finishes and in step S10, AFcalculation is performed by AF calculation unit 1126. In step S11, it isjudged whether or not a peak is detected by AF calculation and when apeak is detected, a focus lens is driven to a peak position. Or, when apeak is not detected, as detection becomes impossible, in step S13, afocus lens is driven to a predetermined given position. In the meantime,a fluctuating curve of focus evaluation value in response to a lensposition varies with depth of field. In a case where depth of field isshallow, as a curve becomes sharp, a fine scanning is required to get apeak position accurately compared to a case where a curve is gentle. Andwhen a focal length of a lens that is one of factors determining depthof field is paid attention to, it is conceivable that the longer a focallength (depth of field is shallow) is, the smaller lens movement pitchesP1 and P2 are made. In a case of a zoom lens, for instance, a movementpitch may be variable coupling with a zooming. And in a case of a camerawith an interchangeable lens, a movement pitch may be changeable inresponse to a focal length of a loaded lens.

[0036] Further, f-number (maximum aperture) has an effect on depth offield. Generally, as an imaging signal for use in AF is picked up at themaximum aperture, when looking at f-number maximum aperture of animaging optical system, it is conceivable that the larger the f-number(a slow lens) is, the larger movement pitches P1 and P2 are made. Thisis attributable to a correlation that the larger the f-number is, thegreater depth of field gets. Even if movement pitches P1 and P2 may varywith a focal length or f-number as in the foregoing, a relation of P1<P2is always maintained. As shown in FIG. 2(b), however, width of ranges E1and E3 may be changed subject to a focal length or f-number. Forinstance, the longer a focal length is, the narrower ranges E1 and E3each may be made towards infinity point and a closest distance pointrespectively and the broader middle range E2 may be made. That is, whena focal length is long, as a movement pitch becomes narrow throughout anoverall range, highly accurate peak detection becomes possible even if,among them, ranges E1 and E3 with narrow movement pitches get furthernarrowed. And with narrowed ranges E1 and E3, a high speed scanning canbe also realized. Also, the larger f-number is, the broader the movementpitches of ranges E1 and E3 may be made. The reason is that whenf-number is large, as movement pitch becomes broader throughout anoverall range, accuracy for detecting a peak position decreases unlessmovement pitches of ranges E1 and E3 are made broader.

[0037] CPU 112 of the foregoing embodiment constitutes a calculator, apitch determiner and a controller, and CPU 112 and driver 113 eachconstitutes a scan driving and a focusing adjuster, and lens positiondetector 150 constitutes a detector.

[0038] According to FIGS. 4 and 5, a second embodiment of this inventionwill be explained. The foregoing has introduced the example that thelens movement pitches nearby infinity point and a closest distance pointare made small. However, a second embodiment describes another examplethat in response to a shooting mode, a range of making a movement pitchsmall is changed. Anyway, it is assumed that a configuration of acontrol system is the same as that of the foregoing embodiment (FIG. 1).

[0039] As described in the foregoing, there are several shooting modesand of them, a scenic and night scenery modes are for shooting an objectat a relatively long distance away and they are called a long distanceshooting mode. When a scanning across an overall range is performed in along distance mode, only a long distant area where a major object ismost likely to exist may be scanned very finely and on the contrary, arelative close distant area where a possibility of presence of an objectis low may be done roughly. In the meanwhile, a portrait mode andclose-up modes are for photographing an object at a relatively closedistance away and they are called a close distance shooting mode. When ascanning across an overall range is performed in a close distance mode,only a close distant area where a major object is most likely to existmay be scanned very finely and a relative long distant area where apossibility of presence of an object is low may be done roughly. Inaccordance with this invention, when a long distance mode is set, asshown in FIG. 4, range E11 covering from infinity point to a pointfalling short of a closest distant point is provided with relative smallmovement pitch P11 and a range from the point falling short of a closestdistant point to a closest distance end is provided with large movementpitch P12 (>P11). When a close distance mode is set, range E12 coveringfrom a closest distant point to a point falling short of infinity pointis provided with movement pitch P11 and a range covering from the pointfalling short of infinity point to infinity point is provided withmovement pitch P12.

[0040] For realizing the foregoing control, steps S5-S7 of FIG. 3 may bereplaced with steps S21-S27 of FIG. 5. Specifically, when a lensposition is detected in step S4 of FIG. 3, a flow proceeds to S21 ofFIG. 5 and then a current shooting mode in use is judged. If a shootingmode is in a long distance, a flow proceeds to step S22 and which rangeincludes a lens position is judged from an output of lens positiondetection unit 150. When a lens position belongs to range E11, in stepS23, movement pitch P is P11 and when it does not belong to range E11,in step S24, movement pitch P is P12 (>P11).

[0041] In step S21, when a shooting mode is judged to be a closedistance mode, it is judged in step S25 which range includes a currentlens position. If range E12 does, in step S26, movement pitch P is P11and when a current lens position is not in range E12, in step S27,movement pitch P is P12. Then, a flow proceeds to step S8 of FIG. 3.

[0042] Also in this embodiment just like the first embodiment, amovement pitch of only a necessary portion is made small and a movementpitch of another portion is made large. Therefore, this embodimentenables a high accuracy and a high speed to be compatible with an AFoperation.

[0043] Now, a way of setting a movement pitch in response to a lensposition can be determined with several conditions other than theforegoing. In some instances, contrary to the first embodiment, themovement pitches adjacent to infinity and closest points may be madelarge. Also, this embodiment employs two-size settable movement pitches,small and large, but a plurality of sizes in pitch such as large, middleand small depending upon a lens position may be enabled to be set.

[0044] Further, this invention has introduced an example about ascanning across an overall movement range of a focus lens as in theforegoing, but only a predetermined specific part in a movement range ofa focus lens may be scanned. For example, when scanning from infinitypoint or a closest one to a given middle point, or from a middle pointto another middle point, this invention is also applicable. Thisinvention has referred to a digital still camera, but may go for anothercamera using a silver halide film. In this case, an imaging element usedfor AF is required.

What is claimed is:
 1. A camera comprising: an imaging element thatreceives transmitted light of an imaging optical system including afocus lens, a calculator that calculates focus evaluation value varyingin response to a status of a focusing adjustment of the focus lens basedupon an output of photoelectric conversion of the imaging element, ascan driving that scans the focus lens in a single direction along anoptical axis in obtaining a focus point, a detector that detects anabsolute position of the focus lens, a pitch determiner that determinesa lens movement pitch deciding timing to obtain the focus evaluationvalue at a given interval in response to a detection output of thedetector during the scan driving, a controller that obtains the focusevaluation value by activating the calculator every time the focus lensmoves by the determined lens movement pitch during the scan driving and,a focusing adjuster that seeks a focus point by evaluating a pluralityof focus evaluation values obtained by the controller and drives thefocus lens to the focus point.
 2. The camera set forth in claim 1,wherein, in a case of the lens position detected by the detector beingincluded in a given range, the pitch determiner makes the movement pitchsmall as compared to a case of the lens position being included inanother range other than the given range.
 3. The camera set forth inclaim 2, wherein the given range is narrow in comparison to anotherrange other than the given range.
 4. The camera set forth in claim 2,wherein the given range is adjacent to a start or a finish point of thescan driving.
 5. The camera set forth in claim 2, wherein the pitchdeterminer determines the movement pitch in response to the output ofthe detector and a focal length of the imaging optical system and thelonger the focal length is, the smaller the movement pitch is made. 6.The camera set forth in claim 5, wherein the longer the focal length is,the narrower the given range is made.
 7. The camera set forth in claim2, wherein the pitch determiner determines the movement pitch inresponse to the output of the detector and f-number of the imagingoptical system and the greater the f-number is, the larger the movementpitch is made.
 8. The camera set forth in claim 7, wherein the greaterthe f-number is, the broader the given range is made.
 9. The camera setforth in claim 1, wherein, in a case of the detected lens position beingincluded in the given range, the pitch determiner makes the movementpitch large as compared to the case of the lens position being includedin another range other than the given range.
 10. The camera set forth inclaim 1, wherein a close and long distance shooting modes are settableand in the close distance shooting mode, in a case of the detected lensposition being included in a given range at a close distance away, thepitch determiner makes the movement pitch small as compared to a case ofthe detected lens position being included in another range other thanthe given range at a close distance away and in the long distanceshooting mode, in a case of the detected lens position being included ina given range at a long distance away, the pitch determiner makes themovement pitch small as compared to a case of the detected lens positionbeing included in another range other than the given range at a longdistance away.
 11. The camera set forth in claim 10, wherein the closedistance mode includes a portrait and close-up shooting modes and thelong distance mode includes a scenic and night scenery shooting modes.12. The camera set forth in claim 1, wherein the scan driving scans thefocus lens from either infinity end or a closest distance end to theother end.